Term Paper on United States of
Europe
Prologue
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the global geo-political scenario has
undergone a radical transformation in the sense that no longer it is about good
vs. evil or uplifting the huge masses from their depleted conditions scattered
all around the globe but now it is about the ‘axis of evil’ or the so called
‘war on terrorism’ which has succeeded in taking away the attention from more
important and pressing issues which the developed nations needed to tend to and
the talk is all about ‘Islamic Fundamentalism’.
In this drastically altered setting key players that have emerged are:
1. United States of America (USA)
2. Iraq and the Middle East
3. Israel and Palestine
4. The European Union (EU)
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USA is acting as a protagonist or rather likens itself to one. Iraq & Middle
East (including Osama Bin Laden) are the wrong doers (it is a secondary matter
that Saddam Hussein sits on world’s second largest proven oil reserves or is it
the underlying cause which is driving USA in its bid to thwart Saddam?). Israel,
the perennial patron of USA playing the role of front line spokesman and
justifying its heavy handedness on Palestinians in the name of eradication of
terrorism has quite effectively torn into pieces the spirit of Oslo Accord
signed by the late Yitzhak Rabin in 1993 and with the advent of hardline and
ultra nationalist leaders on the fore is playing the role of a stooge of USA
quite effectively along with Britain.
Amongst all this self-proclaimed ideologies, the EU (exclusive of Britain) cuts
across a more statesman like persona and a much tolerant attitude towards all
the developments. EU (mainly France and Germany) have in recent times assumed a
more mature outlook as compared to the sole superpower and has succeeded to a
great extent in flexing its muscle on the global stage and restraining the USA
to take a serious note of the saner elements before taking any action.
This achievement is undoubtedly not the result of a short day’s work but more
than half a century is witness to the evolution of the EU which has begun to be
regarded as the ‘United States of Europe’ and rightly so. In the aftermath of
the 2ND World War, Europe was laid down to rubbles by Nazi Germany. Judicious
application of the funds from Marshall Plan and the presence of concrete and
firm leadership in Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy enabled Europe to
rise from the mirth and with the aid continuously flowing in, Europe began the
progress towards rebuilding itself economically and politically.
In the early 60’s, Europe realized that the bitterest of rivalry, which led to
great wars in Europe preceding the Second World War, was because of the fact
that there was internal dissent amongst the Europeans themselves. The
Franco-German War, enmity of Prussia and Russia, The French- British hatred and
the isolated and nomadic Vikings living in Scandinavia all kept fighting each
other which eventually resulted in no gain for any nation and Europe as a whole
suffered.
The European leaders then sat down and began to sort out their differences which
led to the formation of European Economic Community (EEC). Initially the focus
was on matters like free trade and common customs and tariff quota. Gradually,
the organization evolved from being just another Unity Community to one that has
grown powerful economically and politically. In recent times, the major
achievement that stands tall and which EU can be rightly proud of is the
introduction of Euro. With the introduction of the new currency, the economic
imbalance, which was tilted in favor of USA, has now been restored and the 1:1
parity of the Euro against the dollar is witness to the fact that the world
cannot afford to overlook Europe.
One thing which the leaders of EU realized was the fact that although each
nation in Europe was unique as regards to its history, culture and social fabric
yet the thing that bonded these cauldron of nationalities was their geographical
proximities and the fact that they had shed much blood by indulging in
internecine warfare throughout their history over land and territory. After this
realization had dawned it didn’t matter whether it was a French, German, British
or Spanish speaking rather it was all about Europe and Europe it will be.
After consolidating the existing EU base, mainly led by Franco-German
initiatives and the fact that the leadership of these two countries are pursuing
pro-European policies aggressively, EU leaders are now contemplating enlarging
this comity and bringing the erstwhile communist East Europe into its fold by
setting a deadline by which states like Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland and
Greece will enter into EU. This concept of looking beyond physical boundaries
and embracing the changing trend with open arms will augur much better for
Europe than other nations still mired in the dungeon of ethnic obscurities.
I believe that as compared to US Europe has much more stable and durable
foundations as Europe existed long before Europe and the ‘The Economist’ rightly
points out the fact that whereas USA is a land of immigrants who helped built it
what it is today, Europe had a civilization predating the Renaissance era and
going well before the fall of the Roman empire.
After considering the above facts it is no wonder that Europe is turning into a
nation-state rather than a continent as this was the natural course preordained
to it and in times ahead EU (or rather United States of Europe) will challenge
the hegemony of the sole superpower of the world and make its presence feel at
the global arena comically as well as politically.
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